Settlements and Population Fluctuations of Bavanat River Basin during Prehistoric Times

Fars Cultural sphere have different perspectives, including mountainous areas with a cold weather, central part with a temperate climate while the southern part which is limited by the northern Persian Gulf coasts; experiences warmer conditions. According to the archaeological importance of the region, the Bavanat River Basin was investigated aiming at (1) to identify all cultural monuments, (2) to provide the archaeological maps of the area, (3) to investigate the evolutionary process of settlements in different periods, and (4) to assess the environmental effects on the formation of settlements and to explain the cultural position of the study area. During the survey, 200 archaeological sites were identified to have been dated from the Neolithic period to the Late Islamic period. The oldest site is related to the Neolithic but until the Bakun era, there has been no settlement identified. Eight sites revealed Bakun painted potteries and seven sites showed potteries from Lapui period. Since from Banesh period there has been just one occupational site it seems that after Banesh the basin was abandoned until the Achaemenid period.